BORING! Ever feel that way? I just don't feel like I have much to contribute to the lovely world of blogging lately. Life hasn't changed much except for the big things I showed you pictures of. I guess I *could* elaborate a little on those.
First up... our little peanut. A happy little surprise (or massively big shock, whatever wording works for you.) LOL. Despite the surprise, we are really excited. Sometimes the best things in life are not planned and I'm completely anticipating that to be the case for us. I'm about 3 months along. I calculated my due date to be at the end of March, but an early ultrasound put the peanut a week and a half behind where I thought I was. So, the due date is April 3rd. I really tried to convince the doctor to stick with my first due date so that it can "look" like I go further along, but he said no. :P (My longest pregnancy was 38 weeks in case you didn't remember, the shortest was 34.) We are praying that Benson is able to get back into a finance job before this little one arrives.
A few funny stories related to the pregnancy. During the week before I found out, I happened to be at the grocery store. As I walked down the aisle, I saw pickles. I like pickles, but I never buy them because Benson and the kids don't touch them. However, on this particular day, I decided I didn't care if they didn't eat them, I wanted them! They looked good! So, I put them in the cart. A few aisles down, ice cream called my name. I usually try to avoid buying sweets, so this was also unusal. Here I was pregnant, not knowing it, not even remotely suspecting it, and buying pickles and ice cream.
Another quick story, I was about 6-7 weeks along and really surprised at how bloated I was. My pants were already not fitting! Anyway, Sweetie came up to me and asked me if I had a baby in my tummy! I was not ready to tell the kids, so I simply asked her why she would ask me that. Her response was just that she really wanted another brother or sister. Although, she WAS looking at my stomach the whole time she said it. LOL. She asked me about 6 various times before I finally spilled the beans to her and the other kids. When she asked that final time, I responded the same way I had before, "Why are you asking that?" This time she said because it looks like I have a baby in there. Well, I couldn't tell her I was just getting fat could I? So I called in the other kids and told them all. Immediately I had "I want a boy" and "I want a girl" being blurted out. Love kids. So glad I don't have any control over that!
I think that's it on the prego front. I'm finally starting to get over the morning sickness. I've even started to get a handle on the inside of my house again. Its hard anyway when you have 4 kids and your husband is gone 60-65 hours every week. Add feeling completely exhausted and nauseous to the mix and its easy to let the house slide out of control. One room at a time, I'm taking back control!
The second topic of interest, the house project! It has been a LOOOONNNNG time coming as you know. The project is officially finished. The only thing left is for the contractor to pick up his tools and us to clean out the garage so that we can start parking in there again. Its only been 11 months since we've been able to do that!!! So glad to have that over with, but SO happy with the results. We've planted grass seed and are hoping for a beautiful green lawn in the spring.
School is going well for the kids. Tank started preschool on Wednesday, so I actually have a couple hours in the morning with just Twister and me. He doesn't let me get much done during that time, but we enjoy playing. Tank is usually better about letting me get a few things accomplished when Twister is taking his nap, so it all works out.
Well, I think that is it! Until next time....
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Excuses. . .
for my lack of blogging.
Excuse #1: Work has begun on the house again. We're pushing a year since we started, but the end is in sight! Most recently, WE GOT NEW WINDOWS!!! Finally! Siding, gutters, and a bit of landscaping, and we'll be done!
Excuse #2: Preparing for the inevitable
Excuse #1: Work has begun on the house again. We're pushing a year since we started, but the end is in sight! Most recently, WE GOT NEW WINDOWS!!! Finally! Siding, gutters, and a bit of landscaping, and we'll be done!
The kids started school again on Tuesday. I feel blessed that they were excited to go. Tank would've jumped right on that bus if I would let her, but she has one more year of preschool.
Excuse #3: Troub, I mean Twister!
Love that smile. :) But he is getting into a lot of mischief and making lots of messes. Always keeping me on my toes.
So, those are my excuses for today. I have more, but I'm afraid I'll sound really lame if I just keep going. Just know that I am thinking of all you, my blogging buddies) and hope to get into some kind of routine sooner rather than later.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Our trip to Nauvoo
This past week, we decided at somewhat of the last minute, to go to Nauvoo. I wasn't sure how Tank would be feeling after her surgery, but she made a miraculously quick recovery, so off we went. We left Wednesday morning as early as we could get out the door.
And whoa-la! 4 1/2 hours later, we were in small town Nauvoo. In case the fields and fields of corn weren't enough to prove that this is a different sort of place, the lawnmower at the gas station made its point. LOL!
Our first stop was the LDS visitors center. We walked through the amazing statue gardens and showed the kids where we used to practice our dances in the field behind the place. I was pleasantly surprised at how interested the kids were in "our" history in Nauvoo as well as the church history.
One of the things I think the kids enjoyed the most was a carraige ride around Nauvoo. They pointed out all the homes, we went by the river, and really got a good feel for the city as a whole. I learned on this ride, that I am severely allergic to horses. Luckily I had benadryl along, but it was a bit scary there for a while.
Sweetie took this beatiful shot with the temple in the background. :)
After our tour, a swim, and a yummy dinner, we went to a show called Sunset on the Mississippi. I didn't take any photos, but it was pretty entertaining. It had the feeling of camp skits... mostly cheesy stuff, but still thorougly entertaining with some amazing talent mixed in. We pushed the kids limits by staying after the show for a performance by BYU's Vocal Point (a very talented acapella group). The kids were seriously tired, but I think they enjoyed it as much as we did.
On Thursday we started out by going to Carthage jail. Any mention of John Taylor or Willard Richards got the attention of my kids pretty thoroughly. They let everyone know that they were related.
After Carthage we visited the Community of Christ owned portions of Nauvoo. We went on their tour and I was thoroughly impressed. The tour guide really emphasized what we had in common with them. In addition, he let us go behind some of the gates to see interesting things like a hidden ladder in a closet that Joseph may have used to hide from unfriendly mobs. The kids thought that was REALLY cool. Every house should have some hidden passages. :)
Twister had a hard time on the trip just because we didn't take time out for his naps. I think this picture captures how he "really" felt. LOL!
Here we are at the brick yard collecting our traditional Nauvoo brick. Goose REALLY wanted to keep it for himself, but I think he is resigned to sharing now.
Another favorite thing was a play spot called pioneer past-times. They had clothes for the kids to dress up in and all sorts of games and toys that were traditional in pioneer times.
Inside one of the little play cabins they had for the kids there. Tank was busy cooking for her baby. :)
Benson and I tried out the stilts... they are much harder than they look just for the record. :) You can ignore the picture of Benson, he makes it look easy. Apparantly he became a pro at stilts one year at scout camp.
So, we had a great time. Really, my only complaint would be that it was such a quick trip. I would have loved to have spent more time reminiscing and visiting Benson and my old favorite places. We met and fell in love in Nauvoo. It will always be a very special place for us. It was really great to share some of that with our kids.
And whoa-la! 4 1/2 hours later, we were in small town Nauvoo. In case the fields and fields of corn weren't enough to prove that this is a different sort of place, the lawnmower at the gas station made its point. LOL!
Our first stop was the LDS visitors center. We walked through the amazing statue gardens and showed the kids where we used to practice our dances in the field behind the place. I was pleasantly surprised at how interested the kids were in "our" history in Nauvoo as well as the church history.
One of the things I think the kids enjoyed the most was a carraige ride around Nauvoo. They pointed out all the homes, we went by the river, and really got a good feel for the city as a whole. I learned on this ride, that I am severely allergic to horses. Luckily I had benadryl along, but it was a bit scary there for a while.
Sweetie took this beatiful shot with the temple in the background. :)
After our tour, a swim, and a yummy dinner, we went to a show called Sunset on the Mississippi. I didn't take any photos, but it was pretty entertaining. It had the feeling of camp skits... mostly cheesy stuff, but still thorougly entertaining with some amazing talent mixed in. We pushed the kids limits by staying after the show for a performance by BYU's Vocal Point (a very talented acapella group). The kids were seriously tired, but I think they enjoyed it as much as we did.
On Thursday we started out by going to Carthage jail. Any mention of John Taylor or Willard Richards got the attention of my kids pretty thoroughly. They let everyone know that they were related.
After Carthage we visited the Community of Christ owned portions of Nauvoo. We went on their tour and I was thoroughly impressed. The tour guide really emphasized what we had in common with them. In addition, he let us go behind some of the gates to see interesting things like a hidden ladder in a closet that Joseph may have used to hide from unfriendly mobs. The kids thought that was REALLY cool. Every house should have some hidden passages. :)
Twister had a hard time on the trip just because we didn't take time out for his naps. I think this picture captures how he "really" felt. LOL!
Here we are at the brick yard collecting our traditional Nauvoo brick. Goose REALLY wanted to keep it for himself, but I think he is resigned to sharing now.
Another favorite thing was a play spot called pioneer past-times. They had clothes for the kids to dress up in and all sorts of games and toys that were traditional in pioneer times. 
Inside one of the little play cabins they had for the kids there. Tank was busy cooking for her baby. :)
Benson and I tried out the stilts... they are much harder than they look just for the record. :) You can ignore the picture of Benson, he makes it look easy. Apparantly he became a pro at stilts one year at scout camp.
So, we had a great time. Really, my only complaint would be that it was such a quick trip. I would have loved to have spent more time reminiscing and visiting Benson and my old favorite places. We met and fell in love in Nauvoo. It will always be a very special place for us. It was really great to share some of that with our kids.
Friday, August 7, 2009
A day at the hospital
This morning, bright and early, I took Tank to the hospital for an outpatient surgery. A little over a month ago, she had some strange urinary symptoms accompanied by some swelling. I took her to the doctor and the urinary symptoms were dismissed since there was no infection, however the swelling was confirmed to be a hernia. We explained the procedure as much as we thought she could understand. We even got to do a tour of the surgery wing, where they showed her everything they would be doing, including taking her blood pressure, changing into pajamas, picking a prize, and using a mask to fall asleep to. She wanted watermelon scent in her mask. She was actually really excited for her surgery. This is her in the waiting room.
Still cheerful and excited in the prep room. They *tried* to give her blue pajamas to change into. Are you kidding? Not this girly girl. She asked if they had any others, this yellow dress was much more appropriate for her. (even though it was all open in the back, lol). Before they took her back for the surgery, she was given a medicine to help her relax and forget everything. She complained when we got home that she didn't get to use the mask with the watermelon scent. She was really looking forward to it, but I guess the first medicine blocked the memory. Oh well.
I skipped any "after pictures" at the hospital. It wasn't a pretty picture. She was pretty miserable for a while there. Finally, some Tylenol with codeine and an hour nap helped her feel a little better. The doctor fixed the hernia on the right side, then checked the left side to find another hernia almost as big as the first. He fixed them both. When I mentioned her urinary symptoms again, he noted that before the surgery, they had to empty her bladder. She woke up in the morning and went pee, then went pee *right* before they took her back. And of course, she hadn't had anything to eat or drink since yesterday. Anyway, he suggested getting that evaluated by her pediatrician. So unfortunately, this surgery may not be the end of medical stuff for her. I guess we'll wait and see for sure though. Anyway, when she woke up, she just wanted to go home. The staff obliged her.
Note the forced smile. She's such a trooper, but she's not walking around just yet. I'm sure she'll be her "Tank"-like self in no time, but for today she's watching movies and letting us wait on her hand and foot. She's such a grateful little patient. Always saying thank you and being so very polite. I don't think I'm such a happy camper when I'm in pain. I should take lessons.
Still cheerful and excited in the prep room. They *tried* to give her blue pajamas to change into. Are you kidding? Not this girly girl. She asked if they had any others, this yellow dress was much more appropriate for her. (even though it was all open in the back, lol). Before they took her back for the surgery, she was given a medicine to help her relax and forget everything. She complained when we got home that she didn't get to use the mask with the watermelon scent. She was really looking forward to it, but I guess the first medicine blocked the memory. Oh well.
I skipped any "after pictures" at the hospital. It wasn't a pretty picture. She was pretty miserable for a while there. Finally, some Tylenol with codeine and an hour nap helped her feel a little better. The doctor fixed the hernia on the right side, then checked the left side to find another hernia almost as big as the first. He fixed them both. When I mentioned her urinary symptoms again, he noted that before the surgery, they had to empty her bladder. She woke up in the morning and went pee, then went pee *right* before they took her back. And of course, she hadn't had anything to eat or drink since yesterday. Anyway, he suggested getting that evaluated by her pediatrician. So unfortunately, this surgery may not be the end of medical stuff for her. I guess we'll wait and see for sure though. Anyway, when she woke up, she just wanted to go home. The staff obliged her.
Note the forced smile. She's such a trooper, but she's not walking around just yet. I'm sure she'll be her "Tank"-like self in no time, but for today she's watching movies and letting us wait on her hand and foot. She's such a grateful little patient. Always saying thank you and being so very polite. I don't think I'm such a happy camper when I'm in pain. I should take lessons.
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